Khaoula Dorhmi¹, Katell Derrien¹, Zehoua Hadjem-Hamouche¹, Leo Morin¹, Frederic Bonnet¹, Jean-Pierre Chevalier¹; ¹PIMM-ENSAM

Fe-TiB2 metal-matrix composites have been designed and produced by ArcelorMittal, using in situ precipitation of TiB2 particles during eutectic solidification which leads to very clean and particularly strong matrix/reinforcement interfaces. Significant fractions of ceramic reinforcement (10-25% by volume) can be reached through the control of the nominal composition of the material while the size of the reinforcement can be optimized through the local solidification rate. This process leads to an increase of specific stiffness by at least 20%. Initial microstructures of Fe-TiB2 composites are investigated experimentally by SEM and in situ tensile test are carried out to define and quantify damage mechanisms. Random and representative microstructures of the hot and cold rolled composites are generated by the RSA method. The effective elastic properties of these composites are then determined by numerical homogenization based on the FFT method. Numerical results are successfully compared to experimental ones.